Welcome to the thread of my work-in-progress (and since discontinued*) mod called BetterStorage, for the lack of a better name. It adds more storage options, like storage crates, backpacks, reinforced chests, lockers, armor stands, locks, keys and much more... I'm aiming for fun, interesting and balanced features which would fit well into vanilla Minecraft, but also work nicely together with other mods.

* BetterStorage is no longer being developed by my friends and me. Making it is one of my proudest achievements, and I would love to continue, but with the state of modding, the time I'd have to invest and being very motivation dependent, I don't think it would work out. On the bright side, I've decided to write my own game, so wish me luck!

Note that the project is open source and may be considered to be in public domain (officially it's under the MIT license), as with all my other Minecraft related mods, projects and code. Anyone may copy ideas, code and assets for their own mods or continue the mod itself.

** There now is Wearable Backpacks which brings BetterStorage's backpacks to 1.10 and above.

Storage Crates are another storage option, with 18 slots each, sharing their inventory with all other connected crate blocks. This type of storage is not like your neatly organized chests, items put in here will be scrambled around. Each time a player opens them, they will see a randomized selection of items, up to a double chest. You can shift-click more items in even if there's no empty slots in the interface, as long as there's still room overall. The little bar at the top right shows you how full the crate pile is.

To make crates connect, simply place one on the side of an existing crate block, which means you have to sneak while placing it; otherwise you'd open the crate's GUI. If you place a crate on a non-crate block, even if it's next to a crate, it won't connect.
Storage Crates, being the stubborn blocks that they are, want to be placed together in a cube-like formation. This is so they can't be used as cheap instant transportation. You'll know when you can't expand a crate pile in a certain direction if the placed crate doesn't connect to the existing one.

Backpacks are a good way to increase the amount of items you can carry. They actually show up on your back, and take up the chest armor slot, meaning you can't wear armor at the same time. They have 36 slots of storage space by default, a bit more than a regular chest.

As an item, you can simply put it on the ground just like a chest.
To equip it, break it while sneaking. Careful, because if you don't sneak, it will break like a normal container and its items will just spill on the ground. If you find yourself unable to break a backpack, there's probably already something in your chest armor slot.
To unequip, sneak and right click the ground - or more specifically, the top side of a solid block - with an empty hand.

- You can access the backpacks on other players. Just stand closely behind them and right-click. If the player moves away or turns around the GUI will close.
- Normal backpacks pretty much work like leather armor, which means they take damage, can be enchanted, repaired and colored. They will drop their contents when they break.
- Protection enchantments will also protect the backpack from taking damage, similar to unbreaking, from the damage type they protect against.
- When you die while having a backpack equipped, it will drop as a block, much like a death chest, except it only works for the items inside the backpack.

There is quite a few config options to make backpacks suit your play style. Look at the Configuration Information section if you want to find out more about them. The amount of items a backpack can hold can be changed, there is a setting that allows them to be opened while equipped and it's also possible to make them not take up any armor slots.

Ender Backpacks are pretty much portable ender chests, with the best of both worlds. It uses the same storage as the ender chest, so items that are stored inside are completely safe. They're also unbreakable, so you don't have to worry about repairing these.

There is no crafting recipe for this backpack. Actually, I will only give you these two hints as to how you can get them: First, you will need an ender chest. Second, when you see it you will probably know where to get it, you'll just have to figure out how.

Reinforced Chests work just like normal chests. Compared to them, they have 12 more slots of storage and are completely resistant to creeper explosions. They can be made from different materials, like iron, gold, diamond, emerald, and if you use mods, copper, tin, zinc, silver and steel. The material doesn't affect the chest in any way other than how it looks.

Lockers and Reinforced Lockers are just a different looking alternative to regular chests, with the same amount of storage as their counterparts. They can connect to lockers above and below, just like chests can connect to chests next to them. To open them you have to click the side with the door, other sides won't do anything.

Recipe can be mirrored.

Locks and Keys can be used to lock Reinforced Chests, Lockers and Iron Doors. Each crafted key is unique, and can be duplicated or used to craft locks, which can only be opened by that key.

Locks are attached by right-clicking the container where the lock would go, and can be removed by right-clicking while sneaking with a fitting key.
Locks make the container they're attached to unbreakable, but the locks themselves can still be broken by repeatedly attacking them with a sword, axe or pickaxe. The amount of times a lock needs to be hit depends on the attack damage and enchantments of the tool used and the enchantments of the lock. Attacking a lock will take 2 durability from the tool (unbreaking still applies). Once the lock is broken it will take some damage and drop from the container, which can then be opened. Also note that keys can be enchanted to pick locks.

Keys and locks can be colored by combining them with some dye. There's two layers of colors which can be changed independently, depending on if you use 8 dyes or less.

Key is not used up when crafting a lock.

Keyrings can be used to keep your inventory tidy if you need to carry around many different keys. Open the GUI by holding it and shift sneak-right-clicking. Simply right click a locked container and the keyring will try to use one of the keys to open the chest. It will not use up any abilities like lockpicking or morphing, but it will use unlocking. It is not possible to remove locks using keyrings, you have to use the keys directly for that.

Locks and keys can be enchanted, giving them extra protection or abilities.

Key EnchantmentsLockpicking (I - V) - Opens / unlocks a lock once, then decreases the enchantment level.Unlocking (I - V) - Has the ability to open more locks than those which were crafted from it.Morphing (I - V) - Permanently changes the key into the one that would fit another lock.

Lockpicking can also remove the lock from the container, so it's always a good idea to completely remove the lock and put it back when you're done. That way you don't waste the enchantment by opening a chest repeatedly.
Security lowers the effective level of any key enchantments, to the point where they have no effect.
Unlocking V has a 100% chance to open an unenchanted lock. Lower levels have a lower chance.

Armor Stands are a great way to store and display your armor. They don't have a GUI so the way you interact with them is by right-clicking. A simple right-click will swap the armor piece you're currently holding with the one on the armor stand you're pointing at. And best of all, when sneaking and right-clicking empty-handed, you can actually equip, unequip or swap armor instantly.

The Crafting Station is an advanced crafting table that has multiple different functions. There's an internal inventory from which items will be pulled automatically when crafting something. The 3x3 output grid is only used for certain special recipes that only work through the crafting station, like cardboard enchanting and repairing.

By default, the crafting station can't craft automatically, but this can be turned on in the config file. The bottom of the block will look different depending on this setting. When this is enabled and the block is powered by redstone, it will start crafting, leaving the result in the crafting output grid, which can be pulled out the bottom by automated systems like hoppers. Of course they won't clear items from the crafting grid, so the items required for crafting the recipes have to be present in the internal inventory.

If crates are disabled, a chest is used instead.

Cardboard Sheets can be made from paper and slimeballs. They're used to craft Cardboard Boxes, Armor and Tools. Yaaay cardboard!

Cardboard Boxes are portable storage blocks. By default they can be used 4 times and have 9 slots. Place them, fill them, take them with you and then place them back down. After placing them down when the remaining uses are 0 they can't be picked up anymore. Picking up an empty cardboard box doesn't cause the remaining uses to go down. Can be dyed.Actual size and reusability can be changed, see the Configuration Information section.

Cardboard Armor and Tools are very weak and pretty much useless, but they can all be colored. Yes, even the tools. They're meant as an alternative to leather armor for tournaments and such.

Cardboard items can be enchanted and repaired easily on the crafting station.
The more enchantments on them and the higher their levels, the more durable they become.

For a very low experience cost and without even using up the book you can put any enchantment you want on them. If you enchant them step by step, for example first applying protection I, then protection II, up to level IV, you can save 1 experience level per enchantment step. Simple enchantments such as protection and efficiency are free, but multiple enchantments on an item will increase the cost. The image below shows a full set of armor being enchanted with a protection 4 book.

Repairing is straight-forward too. One cardboard sheet can repair 100 points of damage. You have to fully repair all cardboard items in one crafting process, so you may need multiple cardboard sheets to repair multiple cardboard items. If the items are enchanted, you may have to pay some experience levels too. But unlike regular items in an anvil, the cost will never go up.

Drinking Helmets are useful tools for adventurous alchemists. They can't be crafted, but you can randomly find them in dungeons. You can also repair them using whole redstone blocks.

By crafting one with a potion on either side (you can use 2 different ones), you'll be able to drink from it when wearing the helmet. Instead of instantly using up the potion, you'll be able to use it 12 times for a 12th of the effect strength or duration. Drinking from it multiple times will increase the duration of the effect.

This means all of the items have aspects associated with them. And well, then there's the Thaumaturge's Backpack and Thaumium Chests. After you get to a certain point in Thaumcraft, you'll be able to unlock the "Magical Storage" research. The entry in the Thauminomicon will tell you everything you need to know.

There's a few more features that don't fit into their own category - at least for now. Here's just a quick explanation as to what they are:

Flint Blocks are pretty self-explanatory: They are the flint equivalent to iron, redstone, coal, etc. blocks. They're crafted using 9 flint, and can be crafted back into 9 pieces of flint.

A Slime in a Bucket can be acquired by right clicking a tiny slime with a bucket. You can pick up regular slimes, magma cubes, thaumic slimes from Thaumcraft, blue slimes from Tinker's Construct and pink slimes from MineFactory Reloaded.
Slimes captured in buckets can be eaten for food as well as jump boost, or other effects based on the type of slime. If you throw splash potions at the slime beforehand, you can get the potion effects as well! At a reduced duration, of course.

Friendly Endermen can be found roaming around. It's been said they came to the overworld centuries ago, where they found a miner called Steve. They became friends and also pacifists as a result - so I guess neither looking nor attacking them will make them angry..? Apparently they also learned how to craft things from Steve and can be seen traveling around with-- mhh.. the rest of this text is unreadable.

Oh and there's also a little homage to a certain streamer I used to watch almost daily for at least a month. A certain angry chicken can be summoned through-- more unreadable text, dangit. If only you knew its name. But why would that help?

Videos / Spotlights

Fearnbus25 (Version 0.10.4)

Justvideogames (Version 0.9.4)

IDEDOnline (Version 0.8.0)

Aqua Gaming (Version 0.8.0)

Greatlando (Version 0.8.0)

ByteSauce (Version 0.7.3)

jthe111 (Version 0.7.0)

VigorousHydroGaming (Version 0.6.1)

Kazzababe (Version 0.7.0-dev)

Defeater33 (Version 0.6.0)

LuckyLuke (Version 0.6.2)

Trashmero (Version 0.6.2)

ZAIFoxZ (Version 0.6.0)

Ksardeks (Version 0.6.0)

Nirzhuk (Version 0.6.0)

KazoBurg (Version 0.6.0)

Direwolf20 (Version 0.5.0)

Robplaysminecraft (Version 0.5.0)

CaptainSours (Version 0.4.2)

Yo­­­­oMario (Version 0.4.2)

TheGameKitchen (Version 0.4.2)

flamytygwa (Version 0.4.2)

KeKoSlayer29 (Version 0.3.4)

raptorked (Version 0.3.4)

Issues & Mod Compatibility

- Items can't be auto-crafted in the crafting station
Some items, when putting their recipe in the crafting station for the first time, will print an error to the console. This is likely because the mod author forgot a @SideOnly on some methods.Items from the following mods seem to cause this issue: Biomes O' Plenty, Industrial Craft 2, Redstone Arsenal, Railcraft. It's very likely there's a lot more out there, please let me know if there is.Issue with other mod, report to its author.

- Crash related to storage crate when placed next to or accessed by machines.IllegalStateException: Can't be called client-side.
The mod accessing the crate is trying to do so on the client-side of things. The client does not have information about the items inside a container, so doing this is pointless.
If the game crashes right after loading a world, either disable the enableCrateInventoryInterface config setting, or remove the crate / other machine with an external editing program.Issue with other mod, report to its author.

- Moving or teleporting blocks. Crates currently do not like to be moved. Other containers might not work too well either. Expect things to break.

- Ender Storage: Vanilla ender chests aren't placable, has to be enabled in its config.

- MCPC+ causes a lot of issues with mods and therefore bug reports than can't be tracked down, because it's not the mods' fault. If you use it, first make sure you can reproduce the bug without it. Feel free to report bugs related to MCPC+ if you have some knowledge and can actually help me fix them.

About Storage Crates:

Storage crates used to have issues with other things that tried to change their inventory. But this has been fixed now. If you've updated from a previous version you have to set enableCrateInventoryInterface to true in BetterStorage's config file.

Because there's still a slight chance mods might not interact with crates (or any inventory for that matter) correctly, there's a built-in failsafe which will prevent any further interaction until the next restart and log a warning + location of the crate pile. If this happens let me know so I can try and get things fixed.

For any modders out there working on a mod that does inventory manipulating stuff, if you're interested there's an interface which you can use to access the whole crate inventory fast and safe. If you don't use it it'll default to a less convenient "block view" of the crate that only shows a few items from the crate at a time. In case you have questions, just throw me a message!

Keep in mind that since this is a "Work In Progress" mod, future versions might not be 100% compatible with the current one. Also there's always the chance of something breaking, but I'm trying my best!

Changelog

This changelog only contains changes that might interest players.
If you're interested in ALL the changes, check the release changelogs or all commits on GitHub.

Version 0.12.0.124
- Added MineTweaker support for crafting station
- Fixed crafting station making unwanted items in some cases (like buttons after making sticks)
- Fixed containers only updating comparators that were right next to them

Version 0.6.1.18
- Disabled crate inventory interface by default
- Added a config option to enable said interface
- Increased ender backpack durability
- Fixed a bug where crates sometimes wouldn't connect properly
- Fixed equipping a backpack replacing whatever you had equipped beforeVersion 0.6.1.17
- Added ender backpacks
- Added thaumaturge's backpack, only available with Thaumcraft
- Players can open backpacks on other players
- Backpacks are dyeable just like leather armor
- All containers can be named in an anvil and will display that name in their GUI
- Fixed a crash when moving items from a crate to the player inventory
- Fixed backpack items dropping with keepInventory gamerule on
- Fixed something related to the API, crates are now fully supported by Applied Energistics
Probably quite a bit more, but you know me and my memory ...

Version 0.6.0.8
- Fixed backpacks dropping as an item with their contentsVersion 0.6.0.7
- Added backpacks and keyrings
- Added API for crates and improved the one for locking
- Armor stands can be rotated in 16 different directions now
- Fixed orientation code - chests, lockers and such may be oriented differently
This release was made possible with the help of SubSide.

Version 0.5.0.3
- Fixed key and lock crafting while holding shiftVersion 0.5.0.2
- Fixed key and lock crafting, should now finally work
(there still is an issue when holding shift while crafting)
- Increased chance to open locks for Unlocking keysVersion 0.5.0.1
- Added lockers and armor stands
- Added a bar to the crate GUI, showing how full it is
- Added BetterStorage creative tab
- Rewritten chests to they fit in one block ID
- Fixed a crash caused by using keys on other blocks
- Many more behind-the-scenes changes

In version 0.7.2, crate interaction was fixed. If you've updated, it's most likely still disabled in your BetterStorage config file. You have to set enableCrateInventoryInterface to true to re-enable it.

In version 0.7.0, I did some changes that break compatibility with previous versions. Upgrading anyway and playing an old world may cause items to be lost and / or crashes.

In version 0.6.0, some code was changed for the sake of correctness, but it will screw up the orientation of chests and lockers already placed down. Unsure if this can cause any serious problems or crashes, so please back up your worlds, and move the items in an older version if problems do arise.

In version 0.5.0, reinforced chests got a rewrite, so they fit into a single block ID, along with a lot of other changes. When updating from a previous version, make sure to empty all items from reinforced chests and remove them from your world, otherwise face the consequences!

Configuration Information

Here's some info on BetterStorage's config settings, for people who're interested in adjusting or tinkering with the mod a bit.

First of all, know that pretty much every item, block or enchantment in BetterStorage can be disabled by setting the ID in the config to 0. Don't like the cardboard stuff? Do this and it's like it never existed! Note that this actually stops the thing from being created / registered at all, it doesn't just disable the recipe. If a server has it, the client will need it too. If you just want to disable the recipe there's mods which can do that.

Now to the more useful settings ...

Storage Crate options

enableCrateInventoryInterface (Default: true)
Setting this to false will disable the storage crate's inventory interface, which is what makes other blocks (hoppers, pipes, etc.) and in some cases entities (like Thaumcraft golems) able to interact with them.

enableCrateStorageInterface (Default: true)
This may be used to disable the ability for mods that support BetterStorage's crate API to interact with crates.

Backpack options

backpackRows (Default: 4)
Controls the size of backpacks. You can change it to have from 1 row up to a double chest worth (6 rows) of items in it.

enableBackpackOpen (Default: false)
If you don't like that you have to place down a backpack to get access to the items inside, enable this setting and you will be able to open it while equipped by simply pressing a key. Note that this is controlled by the server if you're playing multiplayer.

backpackChestplate (Default: true)
As long as this is enabled, backpacks will take up the chestplate armor slot when equipped. They'll work as described above: Protect from damage, take damage, and eventually even break.
When disabled, backpacks will not be equipped to the armor slot (and instead are transported to the mystical land of baloonicorns). It can be used and interacted with like normal and will still render on the player, but stop protecting from and receiving damage.

dropBackpackOnDeath (Default: true)
Not sure why anyone would disable this, but here's an option that, when disabled, makes backpacks drop their items instead of trying to place themselves on the ground when the wearer dies.

enableBackpackInteraction (Default: true)
Again, you are a horrible person if you disable this. Just kidding. When this option is disabled, players can't access the backpacks that other players have equipped.

Reinforced Chest / Locker options

reinforcedColumns (Default: 13)
For people who think reinforced containers are too large there's an option to make them smaller (9 or 11 columns). Before you ask: No, there won't be an option to make them larger or give them different sizes depending on the container's material.

Cardboard Box options

cardboardBoxRows (Default: 1)
Changes the size of cardboard boxes. Can go up to a chest worth (3 rows) of items.

cardboardBoxUses (Default: 4)
This is the number of times cardboard boxes can be picked up when containing items before they break. Set to 0 to have them never break.

cardboardBoxShowContents (Default: true)
If for some reason you want to disable the cardboard box tooltip showing its contents, you can do it using this.

Crafting Station options

enableStationAutoCrafting (Default: false)
When enabled, allows automated systems to automatically craft items by pulling them out of the bottom of the crafting station.

stationAutocraftDelay (Default: 10)
The time in game ticks (20 ticks ≃ 1 second) it takes for an item to be automatically crafted and then able to be pulled out of the crafting station. This option is primarily for people who want autocraft-enabled crafting stations, but want them to be slower for balance reasons.

Lock / Key options

lockBreakable (Default: true)
Disable this if you'd rather not have locks breakable by attacking them with tools or swords.

Miscellaneous options

enableHelpTooltips (Default: true)
If you're not a fan of the help tooltips on items, you can disable them with this.

enableWarningMessages (Default: true)
If you're getting annoyed by warning messages from BetterStorage in the console, you can disable them with this. Note that errors will get printed regardless. If you find something I missed that should be affected by this setting, let me know.

You can use BetterStorage in your modpack, public or private. It would be nice if you could link to the mod's website (currently redirects here) or this thread, so people know where it came from, but this is not required. I'd appreciate it if you avoid using adf.ly or similar services.

Credits, Contact & Donations

Made by copygirl
Maintained by Vic

Thanks to everyone for motivating and supporting me!
Thanks to Notch, Mojang, MCP and Forge for making this possible!
Thanks to all the modders for the cool mods I play with every day!

Donations
I've been working on BetterStorage for two years now, so if you enjoy playing with my mod and want to give your appreciation, please consider donating. So far, I've received $71 in total from 5 kind people, as well as the game The Stanley Parable.

In the event that my mod becomes self-aware, I am not responsible for any damage it causes.

I like the idea of more storage options. It would also be cool to have different models, shapes or sizes. Like storage cabinets that were two blocks high or very small quarter block storage containers.

I like the idea of more storage options. It would also be cool to have different models, shapes or sizes. Like storage cabinets that were two blocks high or very small quarter block storage containers.

I don't want to copy Jammy Furniture Mod so I won't add very special blocks like that, but I might add a similar block which you can open from the side and can be built next to each other, unlike chests.

Just a little teaser on the crates.
It's just the texture I can show, but there's been quite some work done code-wise and the crates are almost working as I want them to. I'm pretty happy how it turned out.

Ahh, finally. I got the mod materials chests done. Seems like no modders use the ore dictionary for their blocks (Copper Block, Tin Block, Silver Block, ...), which made this a little bit harder. Anyway here's some screenshots while you're waiting:

The first pre-release should be out soon, the only thing missing is the GUI for the crates, which I'm still not sure how to do. I might do pages, maybe a scroll bar (like in the creative inventory). Since the creates aren't meant to act as personal storage, I might even simplify everything and only show one page of inventory, perhaps even random items from the crate. So if you decide to use the crates to store lots of different items in it, you might need to open and close it a few times to find what you need. Sounds fun ~♫

edit: Before I forget, I think I haven't mentioned it here yet. Crates are automatically sorted!

Please let me know what you think on this and share your opinions and ideas.

Really nice mod!
I have few ideas:
1)A closet for armors.
2)A toolbox for tools/swords.

A way to store / display a set of armor, possible to (un)equip it quickly might be nice, but I have a feeling it might be too specific. Toolboxes are to specific so I probably won't add them.
Thinking about the armor stand, display cases and other stuff to show single items might be nice. Or is that too similar to item frames? If I decide to do that it'll probably be one of the later additions to the mod.

A way to store / display a set of armor, possible to (un)equip it quickly might be nice, but I have a feeling it might be too specific. Toolboxes are to specific so I probably won't add them.
Thinking about the armor stand, display cases and other stuff to show single items might be nice. Or is that too similar to item frames? If I decide to do that it'll probably be one of the later additions to the mod.

Its would be similar but you can make it better looking/advanced and than no one will complain

Of course, there's always bookshelves to add...
You could also try to do inventory storage, like bags...
And you might be able to do something like storage boxes where it's like a chest but you can see the item in the first slot (cross between chest and item frame) (Okay now I really like this idea! Can you PLEASE make it??)

Of course, there's always bookshelves to add...
You could also try to do inventory storage, like bags...
And you might be able to do something like storage boxes where it's like a chest but you can see the item in the first slot (cross between chest and item frame) (Okay now I really like this idea! Can you PLEASE make it??)

Inventory storage ... maybe, but I don't want to add bags. Maybe some form of crate / cardboard box which you can carry to move items between places easily. Without it "increasing" your inventory space if you know what I mean.
Labeling chests might be possible, I'm thinking about being able to add an item frame on top of them where you can put in items, or showing the first / most common item in the chest. I won't add it as a separate block.

Inventory storage ... maybe, but I don't want to add bags. Maybe some form of crate / cardboard box which you can carry to move items between places easily. Without it "increasing" your inventory space if you know what I mean.
Labeling chests might be possible, I'm thinking about being able to add an item frame on top of them where you can put in items, or showing the first / most common item in the chest. I won't add it as a separate block.